Two Notable Quarterbacks Weren't Invited To NFL Draft

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – APRIL 27: A detailed view of the atmosphere prior to the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station on April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) David Eulitt/Getty Images

Will Levis’ slide down the board last year was one of the biggest stories of the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

The former Kentucky quarterback was seated in the green room, watching as player after player around him heard their names called before walking up to the stage to greet the commissioner.

Levis’ wait lasted into Friday before the Tennessee Titans selected him in the second round, and it appears that the NFL is attempting to avoid a similar situation this year.

Two of the top quarterbacks in college football – Oregon’s Bo Nix and Washington’s Michael Penix – were not invited to this year’s NFL Draft.

According to Pro Football Talk, the league wanted to keep the number of invitees low this year to avoid a similar situation to the one Levis experienced in 2023.

The league invited around 13 players to the draft this year, all players that are believed to be off the board within the first 15 picks of the night.

Nix and Penix are projected to go in the first round by many draft experts, but it’s hard to determine if they’ll be top 15 picks.

In an effort to avoid another embarrassing situation for a top prospect, the NFL is exercising caution on draft invites this year.

Some of the players who were invited include Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye.

The three quarterbacks are expected to go in order at the top of this year’s draft, with Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. potentially following at No. 4.

Draft position isn’t a reflection on what a player will do once they get to the NFL, but it’s clear what the league thinks of the two veteran college quarterbacks before the big day.